Great place for a quick yet incredibly tasty lunch. You can order at the counter or sit down to eat (where they bring you free chips + salsa). $15 total (incl tax/tip) for my arepa. * Free chips + salsa - 3.5 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rubamba-new-haven?select=LeN9naWxJzsXt8DKVYjTqg#LeN9naWxJzsXt8DKVYjTqg I appreciate the their chips have a grainy texture, aren't oily at all, and have this fresh crisp that doesn't snap really hard like the oily store brands. The salsa is not quite chunky - it's more ground up, like the texture of gravy. In some ways it's nice that this is a little more homogenous and you don't get that watery part of the salsa, but in other ways the tomato/peppers/onions are really mushy. This was medium spicy. * Pescado - 4 stars pic: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rubamba-new-haven?select=LeN9naWxJzsXt8DKVYjTqg#h867FsRPKoiNZgv9BFwr2g cross-section: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/rubamba-new-haven?select=LeN9naWxJzsXt8DKVYjTqg#bTUL-ZQv_FgeSCYYuI6ppQ (Chile ancho rub pan seared tilapia fish. Arepas: Colombian style grilled swee corn cake, made with fresh corn and mozzarella cheese. $12.95) This is a great arepa. The breading is a little thin and has a little bit of a crisp - it maybe could use a thicker layer as it gets a little bit soggy from the guac + salsa sitting on top. The rice has really tasty flavors but is a little on the dry/stale side if I"m being picky, and the cheese was a little hard. The salsa/guac is not very fresh-tasting. But overall the flavors + fish + stretchy cheese coming out of the arepa were great. The fish was really fresh and cooked to a perfect texture. read more

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Its cheap, its tasty, and its a fun time. Overall, I would go again for a quick filling meal 3.5/5 for atmosphere. The restaurant has a local ethnic feel. Its small and cozy, and decorated with a latin american feel. Id say this probably is not the place youd go to impress a date but totally fine for a night out with a friend 3/5 for food: The food is pretty good. I ordered the arepa carne and my boyfriend had the pulled pork tacos. For the areapa, meat is very flavorful but I felt the arepa itself was a little undercooked and bland. 5/5 for drinks: I say this because its BYOB! and that is awesome 3/5 for service: The service is pretty slow, and we went during a time when it was not that crowded. That said, the staff is very nice. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Carne Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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This place is always so amazing! The colombian arepas are the best! But for vegan options I order the venezuelan arepa vegetariano. This is because the colombian arepas have cheese in them. So delicious and authentic! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - venezuelan vegan arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I actually only came here for the first time recently despite having eaten countless arepas from the Ay! Arepa cart. I mean, my past reasoning was that sitting down at Rubamba is more expensive (even with the larger portions) and the space is small and not particularly nice anyway. Overall, I had a pretty pleasant lunch. The menu is quite a bit more expansive than the truck's. In addition to the chicken, beef, pork, fish, and shrimp options at Ay! Arepa, Rubamba also offers crab and lamb - which I ordered, and found to be cooked very well, just to the ideal tenderness for lamb. There are also soups, salads, and beverages like horchata and jamaica, both of which looked very tempting. Sitting down at the restaurant also included the opportunity to try out several different types of hot sauce, including a deliciously intense habanero sauce. It was really frustrating, however, that the kitchen was so slow given we were a party of four with only one other couple eating in the restaurant at the time. Ay! Arepa - the food's in your hand in seconds. At Rubamba, we waited 20-25 minutes. We didn't really have anything to do that day, so it was fine, but still confusing. read more

This review is difficult to write, because I have been a long time customer of Rubamba. I used to love their empanadas, guacamole, and arepas. I would order right at 11:30 when they opened because I couldn't wait to have their food for lunch. However, their quality has really gone down. The empanadas are now completely different, and their arepas are made with what looks and tastes like canned shredded chicken. At this point, it is simply not worth it for the price for me. read more

**If You Have Food Allergies: Read This** ATROCIOUS Experience! I finally found a place that had the kind of menu I was seeking and was very excited to place a delivery order. With no note/explanation, my order was canceled. I called to ask why. A very rude woman got on the phone and told me in an icy tone that they "won't make orders" for people with food allergies. HER: "You listed [item] as an allergy and we have that." ME: "Is it in the dishes I ordered?" (It wasn't, which is why I ordered it.) She answered that No, it wasn't in my food but they were unwilling to fulfill my order because I have allergies. HER: We're not making your order. ME: But I'm telling you that what I ordered is fine as long as it doesn't contain [ingredient] and you said it doesn't." HER: "We will not make your order." ME: I calmly expressed my shock & chagrin..."I'd like to speak to the manager." HER: "I'M the manager." ME: "I'll call the owner." HER: "You do that." CLICK! She hung up on me. I understand that some restaurants are afraid of the liability associated with food allergies, but this is NOT the way to treat a customer. Other places (like Tacomida and Rice Pot) will CALL me and tell me they can't make me a certain dish and OFFER something else. It's hard to express my disgust with this experience and the way I was spoken to. But I've happily taken my business elsewhere. read more

Atmosphere: Came here on a Friday night around 7pm and wasn't too crowded ! Had two seating areas, clean inside. Waitress was attentive. Though can get super loud if it's crowded. Food: I had the coconut shrimp as an appetizer. Presentation was great. Batter itself was mediocre, wish it had a more coconut flavor. Just tasted like fried shrimp but with the side sauces was pretty good. For entrees we had the arepa carne and the empanada. The arepa was sweet and salty. First time trying this dish over all and I throughly enjoyed it. Portions for this dish in particular were definitely filling. The empanada was decent, but I'd recommend just trying other arepas for a filling entree. Overall I would come back to try other dishes! Pricing was fair as well. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I only give this a three star because the meat was tasty. The rest of the pulled pork arepa I had didn't really excited my taste buds. Really bland .... Even after adding some hot sauce. Service was ok. Tried the restaurant because it was highly reviewed but I have come to be cautious of yelp reviews in New Haven. A four star here is probably equivalent to a three star ok n NY or DC. read more

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Rubamba is one of my favorite restaurants in New Haven. I unwittingly came here over two years ago for my birthday, and ever since it's been a tradition for me to come at least once a semester. An arepa is a grilled sweet corn cake made with mozzarella and fresh corn. I've never tried arepas before coming to college, but now they are one of my favorite Latin American dishes, especially the Colombian-style. Each Colombian arepa also comes with rice and beans, fried plantains, vegetable ragout, guacamole, and sour cream! I've also tried the Venezuelan arepa, but its portion is much smaller than the Colombian version. They also offer quesadillas, tacos, empanadas, burritos, etc., but their most popular and notable offering has to be the arepa. I've also tried their fried ice cream, which is a massive snowball that's crunchy on the outside but cold and soft on the inside. I always polish off my plate whenever I order here. The restaurant is a bit hole-in-the-wall decorum, but definitely don't overlook it in favor of other nearby restaurants! They give free chips and salsa while you're ordering your entrees, and service is always prompt. If you're still unsure about coming to Rubamba, they also have an arepa food court near the Yale hockey stadium! The prices are much more reasonable for lunch portions but it's still the same amazing quality. read more

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Got the polla arepa, and it was fantastic. HUGE portions, as it came with fluffy rice, guacamole, plantains, and sour cream. Just really really good. If I'm really really hungry, this is my go to spot, as I know it will fill me up. read more

I love this place ! Great Arepas.. I get the Venezuelan Vegeterian & it's soooo good. Full meal , no need for beans & rice as this has plenty of starch & beans. You can make it Vegan if u just leave out the cheese. Chips & salsa r immediately served when your settled in. Delish salsa too! Try it here if your in the area . read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Arepa Vegetarian , Venezuelan Style - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

It was so nice to eat outside, food was presented so nice and so yummy!!! Service was great! There salsa was great also! Highly recommend :)) read more

Wife discovered this place as some of her Latin coworkers recommended it. We fell instantly in love with the place! Their arepas are delicious!!!! Sadly due to COVID is only delivery or takeout. Def will be coming a lot here!!! read more

As you will see from the menu there I'd nothing "Cuban" going on here. Try Soul de Cuba.....real food. Used to have a different menu. Qualifies as Latin American food- a little of everything...Mexican etc. read more

What a disappointment this place has become. Went there today for the first time in a while and was far from impressed. They took out the main dining room to expand the kitchen so now there's only two tables in doors. And for whatever reason they're only doing takeout right now despite other restaurants in New Haven allowing seating. I ordered my usual Pollo Arepa and was surprised to see the price went up by two dollars. But I could except that. But where as you used to get free chips and salsa now it's six dollars for chips and salsa. What a joke. We were told to pick a table outside and they would bring us our food. Shortly after I was handed a paper bag with my food. My friends order which was the same thing was nowhere to be found. So I sat there waiting to eat till he got his food. Finally my friend ended up waiting 15 minutes before going back in to ask what the delay was. His food has been sitting on the shelf waiting to be picked up but the waiter was way to preoccupied texting away on his phone then to pay attention to customers. The beautiful presentation and delicious food is replaced with everything thrown in a foil tray and the Arepa was totally dried out. So to sum it up, no interior seating. Take out only. Higher prices, Lower quality. No more free chips and salsa, now it's overpriced. And lousy service. That's the last time I ever go. read more

Rubamba... Rubamba... I've fallen in love! Their Colombian Arepas have swooned me with their flavor, I can't even pick a favorite. Each traditional arepa comes with the tastiest protein (I've tried the pollo - adobo marinated grilled chicken, carne - chimichurri marinated beef, and chancho - orange Cuban style pulled pork), mozzarella and sweet corn cake, rice, plantains, fresh pico de gallo, guacamole, and sour cream. The meal is looks like a tower of goodness on the plate, with a tropical umbrella toothpick signaling large portion sizes. The restaurant is cozy and a great place to head with a friend, significant other, or as a group (they have more than enough space to accommodate large parties). The service is exceptional. I've always had great servers who are attentive but not overbearing, and the cooks are charismatic and aim to please. If you don't have time to stay for a meal, they do offer their food to go, which you can order in advance, and pick up at your convenience. Rubamba has easily become one of my favorite restaurants in New Haven, and I encourage everyone to try it! Let me know if you need a Rumamba buddy, because I'm always down for another great Latin gourmet meal! read more

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The shrimp arepa is delicious, and the portion is quite generous! They have both a lunch truck near the Medical School and also a restaurant on High Street down from Chocopologie. I've only been to the restaurant, and both times ordered arepas. Both the carnitas and shrimp arepas are quite generous. They are super flavorful, stacked high with great texture. The arepa's got some cheese mixed in and it is just perfectly cooked. Even the next day reheated the arepas are good. My dining companion got a veggie empanada that was just okay - but why would you forego carnitas and shrimp for veggies I don't understand. Just a note - the hibiscus house drink they have is too syrupy sweet. Skip that and get yourself some guacamole. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Shrimp arepa - delicious but will definitely make you sleepy after lunch. - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Even though some Yelpers hate the term "hidden gem", it is really what I would describe Rubamba as to newcomers to New Haven. It is tucked away on High Street, just past the drunken ruckus of Crown Street and is a small/cozy and informal restaurant. When you walk in there's a small counter and the kitchen is right in front of you. There are two separate dining rooms and I prefer the one to the left which is a bit more warm and decorated with a wall of hot sauces. I suggested this place to my date because I had a Living Social deal that was about to expire. I kept telling him how good their food was, but he seemed hesitant, as he never had, nor even heard of an arepa. He later was blown away and wouldn't stop talking about how amazing the arepas were. The waitresses working that night were super friendly and gave us two free Jamaica drinks (hibiscus infused cold teas which have a cranberry-like taste minus the tartness). I planned on ordering a horchata (my fave) but was completely pleased with the jamaica, which I probably would have not have considered ordering on my own. They initially gave us guacamole with our tortilla chips upon arrival and said they ran out of salsa. I was fine with just the guac, but my date preferred to have salsa and was disappointed there was none available. A short while later, the kitchen mixed up some fresh salsa, so we were able enjoy it after all. Even though their Ay! Arepa food cart (which I also frequent) offers an almost identical meal for a third of the price, the presentation and portion size at Rubamba makes up for it. I plan to come here on a regular basis . read more

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i've visited new haven several times now, and rubamba is the only restaurant i've bothered going to twice. i had a free afternoon on a rainy day and came here for lunch - while unfortunately i had anticipated some sort of lunch menu (no sign of one - though it appears from a review below from Yingying Z. that they have a deal on sundays!), i still had a great meal and can comment on my takeways from the two experiences. 1. i was more familiar with the venezuelan style arepa before coming here, so i just wanted to point out the visual differences for newbies like me, lol. i believe for those familiar with arepas from places like caracas arepa bar, they'd recognize the venezuelan version, which faintly resembles a slider. the colombian style arepa comes with more on the plate, like plaintains and rice (and is itself assembled a bit like steak tartare), but the corn meal is heartier in the venezuelan version. 2. on that note - the arepas are deceptively filling (yes, you get one - with maybe some sides). i actually didn't end up finishing the wrapper of my venezuelan style arepa since i devoured the filling so quickly, but i was fine until dinner. 3. while i enjoyed my la de pernil arepa (the pork was cooked so well and just fell apart under my fork), i really loved the colombian style and will get it again on my next visit. i also had the benefit of coming with a large group in my first visit to rubamba, so i was able to try a few of the colombian style arepas. all were good - i even enjoyed the chicken (pollo), which is probably my least favorite type of meat. the star ingredient that all of these had in common was the layer of sweet corn cake. i reserve my favorite part of the meal for my last few bites, and while the sweet corn cake made it so hard to resist, i left some to savor at the very end. so good. 4. the artwork is great! i spent my lunch enjoying a sunny beach view and seascape, even though it was raining outside. from what i've experienced, rubamba has a nice ambiance and friendly servers. 5. the chips you receive as an appetizer are hit or miss. on my latest trip, they were somewhat stale and lacked that great crispy crunch. however, i remembered being very happy with them on my first visit to rubamba (and also thankful, because we were starving). i guess sadly that it depends on the day, but the arepas have always been top notch. though most of my friends in new haven have moved on, i will definitely come back here again if i'm in the area. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Venezuelan la de pernil arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Went here for lunch yesterday. Initially it was unclear if we ordered first at the counter or if there was waiter service so I had to ask and there was waiter service. We sat ourselves at a 2 person table - the place has about 5 tables total to eat in. Behind us, a shelf had several interesting hot sauces to use. After skimming the menu, we both decided on the pollo loco burritos. Prior to the meal, we were given chips and salsa, both tasting very store-bought, especially the salsa. They tasted good, but very much not fresh or authentic. That's one star off for this place. We got our burritos relatively quickly and they were quite large and very tasty. They even had avocados inside which tends to cost extra at a lot of other places. They were also topped with cabbage which gave a nice crunch. After finishing the burritos we realized they might not have actually had any cheese in them, which honestly was fine by us - they were tasty with the exact right amount of flavor and spice. Didn't even need hot sauce. The prices here are reasonable...service was pretty decent, likely because the place is so small. Otherwise, yum! read more

This was in my list for lunch spots for a while and finally made it here on one of the hottest days of the summer. Only a couple other people were there. My friend ordered quesadillas and I got the barbacoa arepa along with hibiscus juice. Ideas beyond impressed with the arepa's presentation. The flavor was even better. The combination of avocado, meat, and arepa along with the sauce proved the perfect balance. The prices are reasonable so I look forward to going and getting the same dish. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Barbacoa Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I'm not sold on this place. When comparing quality of food vs. cost, I would have made out better at the arepa cart. Came here for a work luncheon. We order the guacamole as an appetizer. Horrible! Definitely not the fresh stuff that you get made table side at other places. This stuff tasted like it had been sitting in a fridge for a while and someone add fresh tomatoes right before serving. I've gotten better guac from the supermarket. I ordered the camaron areapa; only it definitely had fish in it and it actually tasted like they took some ceviché and plopped it on top of my arepa. It was tolerable but not delicious. For $11.95 I expect much better especially when I can go to the carts and get the same arepa meal for $5.50. My colleagues seemed to enjoy their carne areapas and mexican salad more than I enjoyed my meal. I may go for one of those instead next time but with the carts right down the street I doubt I'll make it back there. read more

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Had to check them out after following on Instagram and seeing those mouth watering dishes! Which indeed they were! Food was amazing and it came super quick! The arepas are absolutely amazing. The restaurant itself could use some upgrade. The table service lacked as well, we were served the app without utensils, we had to constantly get up to grab more napkins. The place is super simple- so if your looking for good food relaxed place for simple dinner this is it! Drinks were amazing too read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Tilapia Colombian arepas - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I try to avoid leaving bad reviews for small local restaurants like this one, but at this point you're best just avoiding this restaurant. While this place has a lot of potential; quiet place, small dining room, interesting menu; it falls so short of expectations. The food is mediocre and way over-priced, especially for the area and the service leaves a lot to be desired. On the plus side, the place is clean and not crowded (although crowded would be three filled tables, because that's what the dining room seats). The prices are- nuts. This is a town where one can get a large meal from almost any part of the world for $10. Instead, Rubamba charges $10 for two fish tacos, no sides. Just flavorless fish in two fairly greasy soft shells. Total with tax and tip: $18.75 for two fish tacos and Mexican corn. I'm thoroughly unimpressed with the smokey flavor in everything; our table questioned if the guacamole has bacon in it, or just added smoke flavor. Both are kind of gross. A fun exchange with our waitress: "we ordered 4 Mexican corn" "what happened?" "---- didn't get his corn" " I only wrote down three. Do you want something else?" "I'd just like what I ordered." Oh and we actually had to ask for our credit card receipts in order to sign them because not all of them made their way back to us. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Fish tacos - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

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I had been wanting to try this place forever since I can't resist a good arepa! Plus, when I've stopped in to grab a menu, the staff were so friendly and sweet. I ordered delivery through Grubhub and selected the arepa with carne (grilled beef.) It came with rice and pigeon peas, sweet plantains, some veggies, and pico de gallo. Yum! The corn cake itself was delectable. I ate every bite. I would have preferred sliced over baby plantains, but they were sweet enough and flavored well. The meat was a little rubbery but I ate it. The rice was just ok and the guacamole needs a little work. I definitely loved the arepa itself, I think maybe next time I'll just try another kind. There's plenty of selections - both Colombian and Venezuelan. They have the arepa food truck also - it's probably just better hot and super fresh. I'll be back! read more

Rubamba Restaurant - The arepa with carne; rice and gandules, veggies, pico de gallo, guacamole & sour cream - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

I'm so glad my family stopped by this area on our road trip. We got so hungry and of course I started Yelping for some good lunch options. We chose Rubamba and thank god we did because the food was like heaven. Big portions. Great service. Perfect amount of spice and/or sauce. The complimentary chips and salsa was amazing as well. We asked for chips and salsa "re-fills". The fish taco I ordered was truly the best fish taco I ever had in my life. Perfectly grilled soft fish with fresh veggies. Authentic menu got us excited. The spiced rice was the best Latin American rice I ever had too. You have to try this place! Please go! read more

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We got food from here delivered via GrubHub. Although we had issues with our delivery driver, the food was excellent! We had two different quesadillas, and they were great sized portions and had terrific flavor. Thank you for a delicious dinner! read more

Went to Rubamba for girls night Valentine's Day and had a blast. They extended the happy hour all day and it was worth it. The margarita are awesome. With really good tequila. Tacos a good portion. But the arepas are the best. I had a peluda with fresh cheese and couldn't get enough of it. The staffs at the place are nice and friendly. I would say the place is small so make sure to make a reservation. And it's totally worth the trip. read more

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The best word to describe their chicken arepa dish is D-Y-N-A-M-I-T-E. And that's coming from somebody who doesn't usually like South American food. Arepas, by the way, are round sweet corn cakes from Colombia. But to be honest, my arepa dish seemed to be more Mexican in flavor than actually Colombian in flavor. It contained guacamole, sour cream, and yellow rice, which aw heck I'm not complaining. I loved that the chicken was marinated in some type of yellow curry seasoning. The flavors of everything was spot on. If I could eat 70 entrees of the same thing consecutively in a row, I would. Although my rump would probably grow to the size of Manhattan because I'm guessing a lot of the the ingredients are kinda fattening. The inside of the building is slightly cramped because it's about the size of a large closet. They do have a few sit down tables but a lot of their business is take-out. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Chicken Arepa - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Affordable and tasty food. There are not many tables so I suggest you to avoid the busy hours. The service was great and the food was pretty good. And huge portion so keep that in mind! read more

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One of my favorite places for take out in New Haven. The burritos are so good! Make sure to get the chips and guacamole as well

Definitely not the cheapest food in New Haven, but delectable nonetheless. Their arepas are divine as well as the empanadas. Tres leches cake should have been more moist, but above average as well. read more

Delicious food and great portions. I've ordered take out as a group from here several times and we are always happy!

I wish this place was in NYC! Rubamba makes my favorite arepas, where the portabella mushroom Colombian-style arepa is the best! The mushrooms are hearty and a perfect match for the sweet corn/mozzarella arepa. I also enjoy their empanadas, sweet fried plantains, and house-made chips/salsa. read more

Looking at these photos made it a no brainer to want to stop in... too bad the inside of the place looked so run down!! I mean I didn't expect a 5 star restaurant but food on the floor, cushions all warped and it just looks unsanitary! Food- Looked as good as the photos-- but NO flavor!! How can pernil not have flavor??? I ordered one arepa and left. (The waitress had a roll one $1s but gave me back a $5, probably because she KNEW I was not going to tip a lot considering I only ordered one thing) I left the $5 as I didn't have change-- will never return! If you want hot tap water... flavorless meat... and a quick bite this is your place. read more

Top notch service, friendly staff, convenient location and by the way... the food is awesome!! I highly recommend stopping in here often as their food is made fresh everyday and they make it a point to make every order perfect. I have personally dined here a few times and have always had great experiences. They also have a food truck! Highly recommend! read more

Really enjoyed my beef quesadilla here. My friend and I placed an order for takeout and it was ready almost immediately. (Also, the 10% student discount made for an extremely affordable meal!) Portions are huge, I always thought of a quesadilla as a small snack I'd whip up at home but this was honestly enough for two meals. The meat wasn't as tender as I'd like but it was hot and flavorful and paired well with the gooey cheesiness. Beans were decent, rice was good. Will definitely order again when I'm in New Haven next (the arepas sound incredible). read more

Rubamba Restaurant - Beef quesadilla - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

My constant crave! My husband and I went right before our kids were born, and now that's our tradition we love everything about Rubamba and share meals with family and friends every chance we get! read more

Perfect combination of flavors that will get the gustatory center of your brain firing with joy. The place has a non-pretentious mom-pop atmosphere that makes it all the more enjoyable. read more

Rubamba Restaurant - yum! - Latin American Near Me - New Haven, Connecticut

Overpriced and no ambiance, small dinning area (I think they have 4 tables, maybe 5), no alcohol sold although they have drink menu on the wall by the entrance. I won't be back - tons of other spots in NH. read more